Stretcher frame for curtains and the like



y 2, 1944. w. D. REDMOND 2,347,711

- STRETCHER FRAME FOR CURTAINS AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. 29, 1942 3Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. BY itillmmfl Fedmmd y 1944- w. D. REDMONDSTRETCHER FRAME FOR CURTAINS AND THE LIKE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept.29, 1942 a INVENTOR. [11am 2. fieamaizd m, mwmyfim HTTOIPNEYS May 2,1944.

w. D. REDMOND v 2,347,711 S TRETCHER FRAME FOR CURTAINS AND THE LIKE IFiled Sept. 29, 1942 3 Sheets-sheet 3 dad ' m", MW

Patented May 2, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE vSTRE'ITCHER FRAME FORCURTAINS AND THE LIKE 20 Claims.

The present invention relates to stretcher frames for curtains and thelike and, more particularly, to such stretcher frames adapted fordomestic employment.

A general object of the present invention is the provision of .suchstretcher frames which are simple in construction, readily andeconomically manufactured and which can be easily and efficientlymanipulated and employed to stretch wet curtains and the like for dryingwithout requiring tedious and often dangerous mounting of curtain edgeson a multitude of metal pins.

A more specific object of the invention is the provision of suchstretcher frames which have the side members formed of front and backclamping strips to clamp curtain edges therebetween and with the sidemembers symmetrically arranged with respect to each other with eachhaving one end opposed to the inside edge of the preceding side memberfor adjusting movement therealong whereby curtain material will bestretched substantially in a common flat plane which, for convenience,will hereinafter be referred to as single plane stretching.

Another object of the invention is the provision in such a single planestretcher of corner clamp members each carried by an opposed end of aframe side member and slidably receiving the preceding frame sidemember, front and back clamping strips of which are effectively andalternately hinged or swung and clamped together thereby.

A further object of the invention is the provision in such curtainstretchers of such corner clamp members so arranged as to cause a frontstrip s'lidably received with complementary back strip thereby to behinged or swung with a top hinge section of the clampmember.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of simple andeffective manipulative means whereby when such corner clamp members areto be operated to clamp together front and back strips of a frame sidemember hinging actionisdesirably prevented.

Still further objects of the invention are the provisions of otherfeatures in such stretcher frames making for efficient use thereof whichcomprise providing such front and back strips of frame side members withcomplementary faces preferably provided with longitudinally extendingtransversely spaced-apart ridges the surfaces of which are obliquelyarranged whereby secure anchorage of .curtain edges is had and tendencyto form extremely sharp creases or folds therein may be avoided; cornerclamp members of such construction as to be effectively utilizable "inapplying clamping action to a front strip of a succeeding frame sidemember as a front strip of the preceding frame side member is clampedinto position thereby; holding means adapted at least temporarily tohold a curtain edge in desired position as it is manually stretched intolocation between clamping strips; sectioning of one or more frontclamping strips of frame side members to permit easy progressivestretching and clamping of curtain edges; and others which will appearas the following description progresses.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in partappear hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction,combination of elements and arrangement of parts, which will beexemplifled in the construction hereinafter set forth and the scope ofthe invention will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention,reference should be had to the following detailed description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of an embodiment of the stretcher frame forcurtains and the like of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detailed sectional view taken on line 2-2 .of Fig.1

Fig. 3 is a top plan view with parts broken away of a cornerconstruction of another embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 4 is an elevational sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fi 3;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4

Fig. 6 is a top plan view with parts broken away of another modificationof the corner construction of the present invention;

Fig. 7 is a side elevational view with parts in section and broken awayof the structure shown inFig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a sectional elevational view taken on line '8-8 of Fig. 6-;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 6 showing an additional modification ofcorner construction of the present invention;

Fig. 10 is an elevational perspective view with parts broken away of aback strip of a frame side member of an embodiment of the presentinvention;

Fig. 11 is an elevational sectional view of a further modified form offront and back strips of a frame side memberof the present inventionshowing them in cooperative positions clamping the edge of a curtain orthe like therebetween;

Fig. 12 is a view similar to Figs. 6 and 9 showing a still furthermodified form of corner structure; and

Fig, 13 is a view similar to Fig. '7 of the structure shown in Fig. 12.

Prior to the present invention curtain stretchers of the type adaptedfor domestic use have commonly been featured by wood frame side membersin the faces of which rows of closely spaced sharp upstanding steel pinshave been anchored. These have always been a hazard to the safety of theuser and at the present time it is extremely difiicult if not virtuallyimpossible for curtain stretcher manufacturers to obtain such pins. Manyof the marketed curtain stretchers have located frame side members indifferent planes causing curtain distortion when used, or attempted toavoid such distortions by highly inadequate I constructions.

These and other difficulties of the prior art are efficiently eliminatedor alleviated by the present invention which in its generic aspectcomprises a plurality of side members arranged in symmetrical order withrespect to each other and with each having one end opposed to the insideedge of the preceding memberfor adjusting movement therealongwhereby'their faces substantially lie in common planes, each side memberbeing formed of front a-rid back clamping strips having complementaryfaces adapted for clamping curtain material therebetween, and clampmembers hinging the front and back clamping strips together along theiroutside edges with each clamp member fastened to the opposing end of theback strip of the succeeding side member and having hinged sectionsbetween which the front and back clamping strips of the preceding sidemember are slidably received and by which the latter are hingedtogether. Other more specific meritorious features thereof will appearin the following description taken in connection with the drawingswherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

In Fig. 1 is shown a top plan view of an einbodiment of a stretcherframe for curtains and the like of the present invention. It comprisesfour side members Ml lformed of suitable material, preferably shapedfrom wood, but these may be molded from suitable molding material ifdesired. These members 14-44 are'arranged in symmetrical order withrespect to each other and'with each having one end l5 opposed to theinside edge l6 of the preceding member as the stretcher frame is viewedprogressively in a clockwise direction.

Each side member I4 is formed of a front strip 11 and a back strip I8which have respectively complementary faces l9 and 20 preferablyprovided with longitudinally extending transversely spaced-apart ridges2!-2 I, the surfaces of which are obliquely arranged whereby secureanchorage of curtain edges may be had and tendency to form extremelysharp creases or folds in the latter may be avoided.

At the opposing end l5 of each side frame member 54 a clamp member 22 islocated and securely fastened to the back clamping strip l8 of theopposed end !5 by rivets 23-23, screws or the like. Each clamp member 22is adapted slidably to receive the preceding frame side member and frontand back clamping strips l1 and I8 thereof for adjusting movement of theopposing end i 5 of the succeeding frame side member It along the insideedge of the preceding side member and so that front and back faces ofall of the frame side members substantially lie in common planes forsingle plane stretching of curtains and the like.

As shown in Fig. 2 each corner clamp member 22, the elements of whichmay be formed of any suitable relatively rigid material, preferablymetal, comprises a bottom hinge section 24 and a top hinge section 25hinged together at a hinge point 26. The bottom hinge section 24 extendsdown from the hinge point 25 along the outside edge of the slidablyreceived back strip l8 and then substantially at right angle theretoacross beneath that back strip and is elongated at 27 to extend beneaththe opposed end of the back strip l8 of the succeeding side member andfastened thereto such as by rivets 2323. The top hinge section 25 inaccordance with the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 and'2 may comprise ahinge plate which extends upwardly from the hinge point 26 along theoutside edge of the slidably received front strip I! to a point spacedappreciably above the front face of the latter and is then turnedsubstantially at right angles to provide a portion 28 extending over atleast a portion of the top or front face of the clamping strip ll. Tothis portion 28 of the top hinge section 25 is mounted a suitableclamping member or plate 29 which as shown in more detail in subsequentfigures may be accomplished by receiving a reduced neck portion thereofin a vertical slot in the first described portion of the top hingesection 25,

The clamping plate 29 of the top hinge section 25 has the edge portion38 thereof which is located farthest from the hinge point 26 turneddownwardly and inwardly to provide an engaging lip adapted slidably toengage with an obliquely arranged inside face 3! on the front clampingstrip 2 and to cause the latter to be swung therewith as the top hingesection 25 is hinged outwardly about the hinge point 26 for receptionofa curtain edge between the front and back clamping strips l1 and IS. Aclamping screw 32 is threadably mounted through the portion 28 of thehinge section 25 with the end thereof adapted to bear against the top ofthe clamping plate 29 so as to apply force thereto.

In order to clamp the edge of a curtain orthe like between the front andback clamping strips I! and I 8 they are to be swung apart about thehinge point 25 and the edge of the curtain is then placed therebetweenafter which the front clamping stri i! is swung with the hinge section25 down toward the back clamping strip l3. There after hinging movementof the top hinge section 25 is to be prevented so that proper clampingaction between the front and back clamping strips H and 58 may be had.This, in accordance with the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 and 2 may beaccomplished by a rigid member 33 and a screw 34. The rigid member 33may be in the form of an elongated plate of metal or other suitablerigid material having the ends thereof turned inwardly with one adaptedto engage against the outside face of that portion of the top hingesection lying adjacent the outside edge of the top clamping strip H, theother inturned edge of the member 33 being adapted to engage against theoutside face of that portion of the bottom hinge section 24 lyingadjacent the outside edge of the back clamping strip iii. The screw 34is suitably threaded through a portion of one of these two hingesections and is headed as shown so that the rigid member 33 may be drawnup tightly into the position bridging across the hinge point 26 therebypreventing outward hinging movement of the top hinge section 25 relativeto the bottom hinge section 24. It will be understood that the screw 34may be suitably threadably mounted in either the top hinge section orthe bottom hinge section and that the hinge point 26 may be located morenearly adjacent the complementary clamping faces of the front and backclamping strips I1 and I8 than is shown in Fig. 2, the structure shownin Fig. 2 being proposed only by way of example and since the locationof the hinge point 26 below the complementary clamping faces 19 and 20provides for ready formation in the hinged portion of the top hingesection of a sufficiently elongated slot to receive the headed end ofthe clamping plate 29. Such a modified form of construction is proposedin Fig. 13. In order to permit hinging of the top hinge section 25 aboutthe hinge point 26 relative to the bottom hinge section 24, it is onlynecessary to loosen the screw 34 to permit the rigid member 33 to beturned to a horizontal position.

In Fig. 1 the front clamping strips l'i-l'i are shown made in sectionsand side clamping means -35 are shown provided along the frame sidemembers I l-l4. However, this is not essential to certain stretchingoperations of the stretcher frame of the present invention and may beprovided if desired for reasons hereinafter indicated. Assuming that thefront clamping strips li-l'i are not sectioned and the clamping means33-35 are omitted, the operation of the stretcher frame shown in Figs. 1and 2 may be as follows. With the rigid members 33-33 mounted on thecorner clamp members 22-22 turned transversely to permit hinging of thetop sections 25-25 relative to the bottom hinge sections 24-24, thefront clamping strips ll-l'l may be swung outwardly away from the backclamping strips ill-l8 and the edges of the curtain or the like placedthereinbetween. The front clamping strips l'l-ll then may be swungmanually toward the back clamping strips 18-13 to engage therebetweenthe edges of the curtain. It will be seen that the front clamping stripsl'l-l"! will be carried to swing with the clamping plates 29-29 by meansof the engaging lips 33-33 as the top hinge sections 25-25 are swung.The rigid members 33-33 may then be turned to bridge across the hingepoints 26-23 and the screws 34-34 tightened to prevent further hingingaction of the top hinge sections 25-25. Thereafter with the hingesections of the corner clamps 22-22 held against hinging movement by themembers 33-33 slight clamping action may be applied by clamping screws32-32 causing curtain edges to be held between the ridged and groovedcomplementary faces of the front and back clamping strip i1 and 18. Thenstretching may be accomplished by sliding each opposed end iii of aframe side member l4 along the inside edge It of the preceding frameside member until the curtain or the like is drawn into the desiredstretching condition and the clamping screws 32-32 then tightened up tohold the structure in the soadjusted position. 7

Although it will be understood that due to the longitudinal ridging ofthe front and back clamping strips l1 and 58 with slight clamping forceapplied thereto there is less tendency for curtain edges to be W'thdrawnthereacross and from be tween the clamping strips than there is formovement of curtain material longitudinally of the frame side members,that is in the direction of the ridges 2l-2l, proper stretching on sucha frame may be more readily assured by, as previ ously indicated,sectioning one or more of the front clamping strips l'I-ll and addingholding means thereto. The front clamping strip ll of any one of theframe side members 14 may be provided with say a relatively shortsection 36 adjacent the opposing end If: thereof and this short section36 as shown in Figs. 4 and 5 may be hinged to the bottom strip is byclamping means 35 which may comprise a bottom hinge section 31 suitablyfastened to the back clamping strip l8 and a top hinge section 38 havinga portion extending above the front face of the clamping strip 36. Thishinged clamping device may be provided with suitable means to preventhinging as in the case of corner clamp members 22-22, such as rigidmember 33 and screw 34. Section 35 of the front clamping strip 11 maybebrought into clamping position by a clamping screw 39 suitably threadedin the overlying portion of the top hinge section 38. The section 36 maybe caused to swing with the top hinge section by heading the end 33thereof on the opposite side of a clamping plate 4! suitably fastened tothe top of the section 33. Obviously a similar function may be obtainedby other means such as by using a clamping plate similar to 23 of thecorner clamp member 22 or hinge section 38 may be extended and providedwith an engaging lip to cause the section 36 to swing therewith.

The so-sectioned front clamping strip ll may be further sectioned toprovide additional sections such as 37 and 38 suitably hinged to theback clamping strip by similar clamping means 33-35. One or more of suchsections may be provided, as desired, but it will be understood that assuch sectioning is increased in distance from the opposing end it of theframe side member i l the permitted adjusting movement of the opposedend E5 of the succeeding frame side member is increasingly limitedwhich, however, may not be undesirable in certain stretcher framesadapted for certain service.

Further aid to the user in stretching curtain edges at the time thelatter are placed between clamping strips of frame sidemembers may beattained by the provision of holding means such as pins or hook devices.Such means are shown in Figs. 3 and e and may comprise a few pins 42-32,which, if desired, may be made of nonmetallic material, fixed in thebottom strips [8- !8 preferably upstanding from a ridge 2! and eachadapted to be received in a socket 43 in the front clamping strip l1.Thus by placing such a pin say near the opposed end i5, the user mayhook the curtain edge thereover and then stretch it to a point along theback clamping strip l8 where another such pin is located and thereafterswing the front clamping strip i? into position. Such holding means mayalso augment the sectioning of the front clamping strip I! so that firsta curtain edge near a corner may be engaged over such a pin '52 near theopposing end 15. The curtain edge then may be stretched by hand and thefront clamping strip section 3% brought into clamping position. Thatcurtain edge may then be further stretched to another such pin locatedbelow the succeeding section 31 and the procedure repeated, and in likemanner the third front clamping strip section 33 be brought intoclamp-ing position over an additional portion of stretched curtain edge.As previously indicated this procedure may be reserved for the last ofthe frame side members to be clamped upon 2. ourtain edge with one ormore of the other frame side members including full length frontclamping strips ll-H if desired.

As shown in Figs. 3 and 4 clamping force may be applied to the frontclamping strip H or section 36 thereof at the opposing end l byproviding the clamping plate beneath the clamping screw 32 with anextension 44. This may be accomplished in a simple manner by providing aclamping plate 829 at the remote end with three fingers 44, I30 and I30,with the latter tWo bent downwardly and inwardly to slide along theoblique face *3! of the preceding front clamping strip i1 and with thefinger 44 extending to engage the top surface of the succeeding frontclamping strip. In Figs. 3 and 4 also is indicated an elongated slot 45in the top hinge section 25 adapted slidably to receive a neck 46 on theclamping plate I29 formed by opposed notches in the sides thereof toprovide a head 41 adapted to extend beyond the hinge section 25 andretain the clamping plate I29 in position after it has been angularlypositioned to permit the head 41 to pass cornerwise through the slot 15and then turned slidably to receive a front clamping strip l1.

In a structure similar to that shown in Fig. 1, wherein any one frameside member i4 is provided with a full length front clamping strip [1without being sectioned and, if desired, without clamping means 3535being associated therewith, tendency for the front clamping strip H topop out of position when clamping screw 32 is tightened down may beavoided by structure such as that shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8. Theelongated end 27 of the bottom hinge section 24 may be made integralwith a transverse plate 48 which, as shown in Fig, 8, may be bentupwardly at a point oifset from the outside edge of the opposing end !5of the succeeding frame side member a sufficient distance to permit thefront clamping strip I! thereof to be swung upwardly. The transverseplate 48 may terminate at the end adjacent the plane of the front faceof the preceding frame side member in a loop or sleeve 49reciprocatively to receive a slide 55 the nose of which is adapted to beslid forward to engage the top surface of the front clamping strip i1after the latter has been swung down into clamping position andthereafter the clamping screw 32 may be tightened down as desiredwithout fear of the clamping strips popping apart. Obviously the ofisetplate 48 need not be made integral with the bottom hinge section 24 butmay be made as a separate piece and fastened in any suitable manner tothe back strip H8 at the opposing end l5.

Another form of structure which is adapted .to be used in lieu of therigid member 33 and screw 34 is shown in Fig. 28 of the top hingesection 25 is provided, preferably integrally, with an extension 5| tobe engaged by the nose of a slide 55 similar to the slide 5i! shown inFig. 6 and supported in a similar manner by off-set plate 48.

An alternative corner in Figs. 12 and 13 or secured clamping wherein thetop hinge section 25 comprises a top clamping plate 229 provided with anelongated slot52 through which is received a cross-head I41 section. Theclamping plate 229 has the remote edge thereof at 230 bent downwardlyand then inwardly at 53 to form an engaging lip adapted slidably to bereceived in a groove in the inside edge of the front clamping posesimilar to the provision of the engaging lip 30 in the embodiment shownin Fig. 2. In this modification the clamping screw 32 is mountedrelative to the back clamping strip !8 at the op- .55 9 wherein theportion clamp structure is shown formed on the top hinge strip I! for apurposing end I5 rather than upon top hinge section 25 and this isaccomplished by mounting on offset plate 43 a slide 250 in which isthreadably mounted clamping screw 32 adapted when the slide is in itsextended position as shown in Figs. 12 and 13 to engage and applyclamping force down upon the clamping plate 229, preferably byengagement with an extension i5l thereof. It will be noted from Figs. 12and 13 that the loop or sleeve 49 of the offset plate G8 is located adistance away from the preceding frame side member M as to permit theslide 255 to be retracted a distance sufficient for the clamping screw32 and the nose of the slide 255 to be cleared by the clamping plate 229when swung with the front clamping strip E? away from the back clampingstrip l8.

As seen in Fig. 13 the front and back clamping strips l! and i8 may beprovided with a greater number of complementary longitudinal ridges 2l2iand intervening grooves if desired which may increase the grippingaction and, by virtue of their multiplicity, decrease depths of theintervening grooves producing less apparent creases in curtain material.Further as shown in Fig. 11 tendency to production of creases in curtainedges may be reduced by rounding the edges of the ridges 2i and thecomplementary grooves to provide a wavy or sinusoidal transverseclamping surface on each of the front and back clamping strips l7 andIS. The manner in which such soformed complementary clamping faces avoidtending ridges 2i-2l are arranged obliquely as has been shown so thateficient clamping and holding action is attained as distinguished fromthe precarious holding power of a flat clamping surface.

From the above it will be apparent that the stretcher frame of thepresent invention while avoiding the use of a multitude of steel pinseffectively provides for support of curtains and the like in a singleplane and by virtue of the fact members thereof are adjustable relothersingle plane stretching can be in an efficient manner. This feature ofadjustability is of great importance and merit in the stretching anddrying of curtains;

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above among others areattained in an eflicient manner and since certain changes may be made'inthe above construction and different embodiments of the invention couldbe made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended thatall matter contained in the above description or shown in theaccompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense.

berfor adjusting movement therealong whereby their faces substantiallylie in common planes,

,back clamping strips sliding movement while each side member beingformed of front and back clamping strips having complementary facesadapted for clamping curtain material therebetween, clamp membershinging said front and together along their outside edges with eachclamp member fastened to the opposing endoi the back strip of thesucceeding side member and having hinged sections between which thefront and back clamping strips of the preceding side member are slidablyreceived and by which the latter are hinged together, and means to causesaid hinged sections of said clamp members to apply clamping force tosaid'front and back strips to clamp the latter together.

2. A stretcher frame for curtains and the like comprising, incombination, a plurality of side members arranged in symmetrical orderwith respect to each other and with each having one end opposed to theinside edge of the preceding member for adjusting movement therealongwhereby their faces substantially lie in common planes, each side memberbeing formed of front and back clamping strips having complementaryfaces adapted for clamping curtain material therebetween, clamp membershinging said front and back clamping strips together along their outsideedges with each clamp member fastened to the opposing end of the backstrip of the succeeding side member and having hinged sections betweenwhich the front and back clamping strips of the preceding side memberare slidably received and by which the latter are hinged together, oneof said hinged sections being elongated to extend down from a hingepoint along the outside edge of the slidably received back beneath thatstrip and to bethe back strip of the strip then across neath the opposedend of succeeding side member and fastened thereto, the

other of hinged sections extending up from the hinge point along theoutside edge of the slidably received front strip and having a portionextending over at least a portion of the top of the latter strip andinterfitted therewith for relative providing for conjoint swingingmovement thereof, and means to cause said hinged sections of said clampmembers to apply clamping force to said front and back strips to clampthe latter together.

3. A. stretcher frame for curtains and the like comprising, incombination, a plurality of side members arranged in symmetrical orderwith respect to each other and with each having one end opposed to theinside edge of the preceding member for adjusting movement therealongwhereby their faces substantially lie in common planes, each side memberbeing formed of front and back clamping strips having complementaryfaces adapted for clamping curtain material therebe tween, clamp membershinging said front and back clamping strips together along their outsideedges with each clamp member fastened to the opposing end of the backstrip of the succeeding side member and having hinged sections betweenwhich the front and back clamping strips of the preceding side memberare slidably received and by which the latter are hinged together, andmeans selectively to prevent hinging movement of said clamp members whensaid front and back strips are to be clamped together thereby.

4. A stretcher frame for curtains and the like comprising, incombination, a plurality of side members arranged in symmetrical orderwith respect to each other and with each having one end opposed to theinside edge of the preceding member for adjusting movement therealongwhereby their faces substantially lie in common planes, each side memberbeing formedof front and back clamping strips having complementaryfaces; adapted for clamping curtain material therebetween, clamp membershinging said front and back clamping strips together along their outsideedges with each clamp member fastened to the opposing end of the backstrip of the succeeding side member and having hinged sections betweenwhich the front and back clamping strips of the preceding side memberare slidably received and by which the latter are hinged together, andmeans mounted on the opposing end of the back strip of each of thesucceeding side members selectively to be operated to prevent hingingmovement of said clamp members when said front and back strips are to beclamped together thereby.

5. A stretcher frame for curtains and the like comprising, incombination, a plurality of side members arranged in symmetrical orderwith respect to each other and with each having one end opposed to theinside edge of the preceding member for adjusting movement therealongwhereby their faces substantially lie in common planes, each side memberbeing formed of front and back clamping strips having complementaryfaces adapted for clamping curtain material therebetween, clamp membershinging said front and back clamping strips together along their outsideedges with each clamp member fastened to the opposing end of the backstrip of the succeeding side member and having hinged sections betweenwhich the front and back clamping strips of the preceding side memberare slidably received and by which the latter are hinged together, andmeans mounted on said clamp members selectively to be operated toprevent hinging movement of said clamp members when said front and backstrips are to be clamped together thereby.

6. A stretcher frame for curtains and the like comprising, incombination, a plurality of side members arranged in symmetrical orderwith respect to each other and with each having one end opposed to theinside edge of the preceding member for adjusting movement therealongwhereby their faces substantially lie in common planes, each side memberbeing formed 'of front and back clamping strips having complementaryfaces adapted for clamping curtain material therebetween, clamp membershinging said front and back clamping strips together along their outsideedges with each clamp member fastened to the opposing end of the backstrip of the succeeding side member, each clamp member having sectionshinged together at a hinge point and between which the front and backclamping strips of the preceding side member are slidably received andby which the latter are hinged together, and a plurality of rigidmembers each of sufficient length to bridge across the hinge point fromone hinge section to the other of a clamp member with each rigid memberpivoted by a clamping screw to one of the sections of one of said clampmembers Wherebywhen the latter are to clamp said front and back stripstogether said rigid members may be manipulated to positions bridgingacross the hinge points preventing hinging movement of the sections ofsaid clamp members.

7. A stretcher frame forcurtains and the like comprising, incombination, a plurality of side -tion of the top of the latter -of, andmeans selectively v .therebetween, clamp members members arranged insymmetrical order with respect to each other and with each having oneend opposed to the inside edge of the preceding member for adjustingmovement therealong whereby their faces substantially lie in commonplanes, each side member being formed of front and back clamping stripshaving complementary faces adapted for clamping curtain materialtherebetween, clamp members hinging said front and back clamping stripstogether along their outside edges with each clamp member fastened tothe opposing end of the back strip of the succeeding side member andhaving hinged sections between which the front and back clamping stripsof the preceding side member are slidably received and by which thelatter are hinged together, one of said hinged sections being elongatedto extend down from a hinge point along the outside edge of the slidablyreceived back strip then across beneath that strip and to beneath theopposed end of the back strip of the succeeding side member and fastenedthereto, the other of said hinged sections extending up from the hingepoint along the outside edge of the slidably received front strip andhaving a portion extending over at least a porstrip and interfittedtherewith for relative sliding movement while providing for conjointswinging movement thereto prevent hinging members when said be clampedtogether movement of said clamp front and back strips are to thereby.

8. A stretcher frame for curtains and the like comprising, incombination, a plurality of side members arranged in symmetrical orderwith respect to each other and with each having one end opposed to theinside edge of the preceding member for adjusting movement therealongwhereby their faces substantially lie in common planes, each side memberbeing formed of front and back clamping strips having complementaryfaces adapted for clamping curtain material hinging said front clampingstrips together along their outside edges With each clamp memberfastened to the opposing end of the back strip of the succeeding sidemember and having hinged sections between which the front and backclamping strips of the preceding side member are slidably received andby which the latter are hinged together, one of said hinged sectionsbeing elongatedto extend down from a hinge point along the outside edgeof the slidably received back strip then across beneath that strip andto beneath the opposed end of the back strip of the succeeding sidemember and fastened thereto, the other of said hinged sections extendingup from the hinge point along the outside edge of the slidably receivedfrontstrip and having a portion extending over at least a portion of thetopof the latter strip and interfitted therewith means mounted on thestrip of each of the succeeding side members selectively to be operatedto prevent hinging movement of said clamp members when said front andback strips are to be clamped together thereby. W

,9. A stretcher frame for curtains and th like comprising, incombination, a plurality of side members arranged in symmetrical orderwith respect to each other and with each having one end opposed to theinside edge of the preceding member for adjusting movement therealongwhereby their faces substantially lie in common planes, each side memberbeing formed of front and back clamping strips having complementary forclamping curtain material outside edges to the opposing end of the backstrip of the ing strips of the preceding side member are slidablyreceived and by which the latter are hinged together, one of said hingedsections being elongated to extend down from a hinge point along theoutside edge of the slidably received back strip then across beneaththat strip and to beneath the opposed end of the back strip of thesucceeding side member and fastened thereto,

10. A stretcher frame for curtains and the like comprising, incombination, a plurality of side members arranged in symmetrical orderwith respect to each other and with each having one end opposed to theinside edge of the preceding member for adjusting movement therealongwhereby their faces substantially lie in common planes, each side memberbeing formed of front and back clamping stn'ps having complementaryfaces adapted for clamping curtain material therebetween, clamp membershinging said front and back clamping strips together along their outsideedges with each clamp member fastened ing strips of the preceding sidemember are slidably received and by which the latter are hingedtogether, one of said hinged sections being elonof sufficient lengthcomprising, in combination, a plurality of side members arranged insymmetrical order with respect to each other and with each having oneend opposed to the inside edge of the preceding member for adjustingmovement therealong whereby their faces substantially lie in commonplanes, each side member being formed of front and back clamping stripshaving complementary faces adapted for clamping curtain materialtherebetween, clamp members hinging said front and back clamping stripstogether along their outside edges with each clamp member fastened tothe opposing end of the back strip of the succeeding side member andhaving hinged ctions between which the front and back clamping strips ofthe preceding side member are slidably received and by which the latterare hinged together, one of said hinged sections being elongated toextend down from a hinge point along the outside edge of the slidablyreceived back strip then across beneath that strip and to beneath theopposed end of the back strip of the succeeding side member and fastenedthereto, the other of said hinged sections extending up from the hingepoint along the outside edge of the slidably received front strip andhaving a portion extending over at least a portion of the top of thelatter strip and interfitted therewith for relative sliding movementWhile providing for conjoint swinging movement thereof, and meansmounted on said clamp members selectively to be operated to preventhinging movement of said clamp members when said front and back stripsare to be clamped together thereby.

12. A stretcher frame for curtains and the like comprising, incombination, a plurality of side members arranged in symmetrical orderwith respect to each other and with each having one end opposed to theinside edge of the preceding member for adjusting movement therealongwhereby their faces substantially lie in common planes, each side memberbeing formed of front and back clamping strips having complementaryfaces adapted for clamping curtain material therebetween, clamp membershinging said front and back clamping strips together along their outsideedges with each clamp member fastened to the opposing end of the backstrip of the succeeding side member and having 7 between which the frontand the preceding side memher are slidably received and by which thelatter are hinged together, one of said hinged sections being elongatedto extend down from a hinge point along the outside edge of the slidablyreceived back strip then across beneath that strip and to beneath theopposed end of the back strip of the succeeding side member and fastenedthereto, the other of said hinged sections extending up from the hingepoint along the outside edge of the slidably received front strip andhaving a portion extending over at least a portion of the top of thelatter strip and interfitted therewith for while providing for conjointswinging movement thereof, and a plurality of rigid members each tobridge across the hinge point from one hinge section to the other of aclamp member with each rigid member pivoted by a clamping screw to oneof thesections of one of said clamp members whereby when the latter areto clamp said front and back strips together said rigidmembersmaybemanipulated to positions bridging acros hinged sections backclamping strips of relative sliding movement the hinge points preventinghinging movement of the sections of said clamp'members.

13. A stretcher frame for curtains and the like com-prising, incombination, a plurality of side members arranged in symmetrical orderwith respect to each other and with each having one end opposed to theinside edge of the preceding member for adjusting movement therealongwhereby their faces substantially lie in common planes, each side memberbeing formed of front and back clamping strips having complementaryfaces comprising a plurality of longitudinally extending transverselyspaced-apart ridges the surfaces of which are obliquely arranged andadapted for clamping curtain material therebetween, clamp membershinging said front and back clamping strips together along their outside edges with each clamp member fastened to the opposing end of theback strip of the succeeding side member and having hinged sectionsbetween which the front and back clamping strips of the preceding sidemember are slidably received and by which the latter are hingedtogether, and means to cause said hinged sections of said clamp membersto apply clamping force to said front and back strips to clamp thelatter together.

14. A stretcher frame for curtains and the like comprising, incombination, a plurality of side members arranged in symmetrical orderwith respect to each other and with each having one end opposed to theinside edge of the preceding member for adjusting movement therealongwhereby their faces substantially lie in common planes, each side memberbeing formed of front and back clamping strips having complementaryfaces adapted for clamping curtain material therebetween, the frontstrip of at least one side member being sectioned to permit separate andprogressive clamping of portions of an edge of a curtain or the like asit is stretched into position, means hinging the front strip sections totheir cooperating back strip and toprovide for separate clampingthereof, clamp members hinging at least one of said front strip sectionsand its cooperating back clamping strip and other front and backclamping strips together along their outside edges with each clampmember fastened to the opposing end of the back strip of the succeedingside member and having hinged sections between which the front and backclamping strips of the succeeding side member are slidably received andby which the latter are hinged together, and means tocause said hingedsections of said clamp members to apply clamping force to said front andback strips to clamp the latter together.

15. A stretcher frame for curtains and. the like comprising, incombination, a plurality of side members arranged in symmetrical orderwith respect to each other and with each having one end opposed to theinside edge of the preceding member for adjusting movement therealongwhereby their faces substantially lie in common planes, each side memberbeing formed of front and back clamping strips having complementaryfaces adapted for clamping curtain material therebetween, holding meansbetween front and back strips for engagement by an edge of a curtain orthe like to aid in stretching the same while being placed therebetweento be clamped in stretched position, clamp members hinging said frontand back clamping strips together along their outside edges witheachclamp member fastened to the opposing end of the back strip of thesucceeding side member and having hinged sections between which thefront and back clampin'g strips of the preceding side member areslidably received and-by which the latter are hinged together, and meansto cause said hinged sections of said clamp members to apply clampingforce to said front and back strips to clamp the latter together.

16. A stretcher frame for curtains and the like comprising, incombination, a plurality of side members arranged in symmetrical orderwith respect to each other and with each having one end opposed to theinside edge of the preceding member for adjusting movement therealongwhereby their faces substantially lie in common planes, each side memberbeing formed of front and back clamping strips having complementaryfaces adapted for clamping curtain material therebetween, the frontstrip of at least one side member being sectioned to permit separate andprogressive clamping of portions of an edge of a curtain or the like asit is stretched into position, means hinging the strip sections togetherand to provide for separate clamping thereof, holding means betweenfront and back strips for engagement by an edge of a curtain or the liketo aid in stretching the same while being placed therebetween to beclamped in stretched position, clamp members hinging said front and backclamping strips together along their outside edges with each clampmember fastened to the opposing end of the back strip of the succeedingside member and having hinged sections between which the front and backclamping strips of the preceding side member are slidably received andby which the latter are hinged together, and means to cause said hingedsections of said clamp members to apply clamping force to said front andback strips to clamp the latter together.

17. In a stretcher frame for curtains and the like, a corner clampmember comprising, in combination, a bottom section and a top sectionhinged together for relative swinging movement, said bottom sectionextending downwardly from the hinge point to provide a portion to slidealong the outside edge of a frame side member and then substantially atright angles to that portion to provide a second portion to slide alongthe back face of such side member and terminating in an end portionadapted to be fastened to the back of an end of a succeeding frame sidememher, said top section extending upwardly from the hinge point toprovide a portion to slide along the outside edge of such side memberand then substantially at right angles to that portion to provide asecond portion to overlie the front face of such side member, a clampingscrew threadably mounted in the overlying portion of said top section, aplate mounted relative to said screw and said overlying portion toengage the front face of such side member and apply clamping forcethereon toward the second-mentioned portion of said bottom section andhaving the edge thereof farthest from the hinge point turned to providean engaging lip adapted slidably to engage with a portion of such sidemember to cause at least that portion to be swung therewith, and meansselectively to limit relative swinging movement of said top and bottomsections for applying clamping force to such side member therebetween.

' 18. In a stretcher frame for curtains and the like, a corner clampmember comprising, in combination, a bottom section and a top sectionhinged together for relative swinging movement,

said bottom section extending downwardly from the hinge point to providea portion to slide along the outside edge of a frame side member andthen substantially at right angles to that portion to provide a secondportion to slide along the back face of such side member and terminatingin an end portion adapted to be fastened to the back of an end of asucceeding frame side member, said top section extending upwardly fromthe hinge point to provide a portion to slide along the outside edge ofsuch side member and then substantially at right angles to that portionto provide a second portion to overlie the front face of such sidemember, a clamping screw threadably mounted in the overlying portion ofsaid top section, a plate mounted relative to said screw and saidoverlying portion to engage the front face of such side member and applyclamping force thereon toward the second-mentioned portion' of saidbottom section and having the edge thereof farthest from the hinge pointturned downwardly at a point located a distance from the first-mentionedportion of said top section at least equal to the width of the frontface of such side member and back toward the hinge point to provide anengaging lip adapted slidably to engage beyond the inside edge of suchside member and cause at least a portion of the latter to be swungtherewith, and means selectively to limit relative swinging movement ofsaid top and bottom sections for applying clamping force to such sidemember therebetween.

19. In a stretcher frame for curtains and the like, a corner clampmember comprising, in combination, a bottom section and a top sectionhinged together for relative swinging movement, said bottom sectionextending downwardly from the hinged point to provide a portion to slidealong the outside edge of a frame side member and then substantially atright angles to that portion to provide a second portion to slide alongthe back face of such side member and terminating in an end portionadapted to be fastened to the back of an end of a succeeding frame sidemember, said top section extending upwardly from the hinge point toprovide a portion to slide along the outside edge of such side memberand then substantially at right angles to that portion portion tooverlie the front member, a clamping screw in the overlying portion ofsaid top section, a plate-mounted relative to said screw and saidoverlying portion to engage the front face of such side member and applyclamping force thereon toward the second-mentioned portion of saidbottom section and having the edge thereof farthest from the hinge pointturned to provide an engaging lip adapted slidably to engage with aportion of such side member to cause at least that portion to be swungtherewith, and a rigid member pivoted by a clamping screw to one of saidfirst-mentioned portions of said hinge sections so as to bridge acrossthe hinge point and engage both said portions when manipulated to aposition preventing outward hinging movement of said top hinge sectionrelative to said bottom hinge section.

'20. In a stretcher frame for curtains and the like, a corner clampmember comprising, in comprovide a second portion to slide along theback face of such side member and terminating in an end portion adaptedto be fastened to the back of an end of a succeeding frame side member,said top section extending upwardly from the hinge point to provide aportion to slide along the outside edge of such side member and thensubstantially at right angles to that portion to provide a secondportion to overlie the front face of such side member, a clamping screwthreadably mounted in the overlying portion of said top section, a platemounted relative to said screw and said overlying portion to engage thefront face of such side member and apply clamping force thereon towardthe second-mentioned portion of said bottom section and having at leastone portion of the edge thereof farthest from the hinge point turneddownwardly at a point located a distance from the first-mentionedportion of said top section at least equal to the width of the frontface of such side member and back toward the hinge point to provide anengaging lip adapted slidably to engage beyond the inside edge of suchside member and cause at least a portion of the latter to be swungtherewith, said plate having an extension adapted for cooperation with aportion of such succeeding frame side member, and means selectively tolimit relative swinging movement of said top and bottom sections forapplying clamping force to such side member there- 5 between.

